[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Evesham 11-12-2002 by Ord. No. 41-11-2002. Amendments
noted where applicable.[1]]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Personnel policies — See Ch. 22.
The Township of Evesham does hereby commit to
assist employees of the Township, not covered by collective bargaining
agreements, by providing certain benefits coverage after retirement
as authorized by N.J.S.A. 40A:10-22 et seq. The Township Council recognizes
and values the hard work and commitment of these Township employees.
The Township Council also realizes the post-retirement benefits costs
are on the rise and, under the authority of N.J.S.A. 40A:10-22 et
seq., implements this chapter to contribute to qualifying employees
assistance in the area of post-retirement benefits.
[Amended 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 21-12-2008; 3-17-2015 by Ord. No. 7-3-2015]
A.
To be eligible for postretirement benefits, Township employees must
meet one of the two following sets of requirements:
(1)
The employee must be 62 years of age or older and with 15 years or
more years of employment with the Township of Evesham; or
(2)
The employee must be 60 years of age or older, with 25 years in a
state pension and with 15 years of employment with the Township of
Evesham and retire after March 31, 2015.
B.
This chapter only applies to Township employees who are not covered
by a collective bargaining agreement or any member of Township Council
in office after July 1, 2007.
The following limitations shall be placed on
post-retirement benefits:
A.
Any benefits offered by the Township to retired employees
shall be secondary to Medicare (provided the retiree is Medicare eligible)
and/or to a spouse's primary benefits.
B.
Benefits offered by the Township shall only cover
the retired employee and his or her spouse; dependants shall not be
included.
A.
Township employees who qualify for post-retirement benefits assistance, as described in § 24-2, may continue on the Township's supplemental or secondary plan, if applicable, or may subscribe to a plan chosen by the retired employee. Employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and meeting the age and years of service requirements set forth in § 24-2, shall be eligible for up to $5,000 a year for post-retirement benefits. The Township shall pay up to $5,000 a year directly to the Township's health care carrier for qualified retired employees who continue on the Township's supplemental or secondary health care plan.
B.
Qualified retired employees who are required to, or
decide to, go with a post-retirement benefits carrier not associated
with the Township shall be reimbursed up to $5,000 a year. Qualified
retired employees must provide the Township with a receipt of moneys
paid to a post-retirement benefits carrier in order to be reimbursed.
C.
A qualified retiree receiving health benefits coverage
from any employer after retirement shall be ineligible for the benefits
provided by this chapter for as long as the qualified retiree receives
that coverage.
Qualified retired employees are eligible for
a yearly increase of the retirement benefit offered by the Township,
as described above. The five-thousand-dollar post-retirement benefit
shall be increased in accordance with the cost-of-living adjustment
formula used by the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits Fact
Sheet No. 18 in determining percentage increases for retirees receiving
a monthly retirement allowance. The retiree shall be required to produce
a pay stub, statement or other documentation required by the Township
as evidence of the increase.